HB 1010 (see companion bill SB 2) – Arkansas

THE ARKANSAS PHARMACY BENEFITS MANAGER LICENSURE ACT: Beginning September 2018, this law requires pharmacy benefits managers to become licensed, file an annual statement about its sales and contracts within the state, and provide a report that shows how a PBM provides convenient access to pharmacies and fair and reasonable reimbursement rates to pharmacists, and does not financially incentivize the patient to use one pharmacist or pharmacy over another. The bill also applies several other restrictions to PBM advertising, promotion, and reimbursement practices, including a prohibition on deceitful advertising, gag clauses, and failure to reimburse pharmacists. This bill prohibits gag-clauses in pharmacy contracts and provides that pharmacy or pharmacist may provide to an insured information regarding the insured’s total cost for pharmacist services for a prescription drug.